5 ways to make Mother’s Day special in isolation

Every year, Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday of May, but this year, things are definitely different. COVID-19 is keeping families at home and putting distance between older parents and adult children, so it’s more important than ever to share the love this Mother’s Day, and have some fun as well.

To help you do this, here are five ways to celebrate your mum, your partner or yourself on 10 May.

Start by setting aside some ‘Mum time’

Mums are always busy balancing the challenges of child-raising, work and life, and COVID-19 has put extra pressure on finances, time and emotions, so it’s important that mums can take a break from their hectic routines and responsibilities.

In your family, a special Mother’s Day can be as simple as giving Mum a sleep-in, serving coffee in bed, and clearing the decks so there are no chores waiting for her when she gets up. Throughout the day, focus on doing things that Mum enjoys – whether that’s giggling through a family fitness session or relaxing with a good book – and factor in time for mental space, as well as fun activities.

Celebrate together, even if you’re apart

Social distancing might make it hard to hug your elderly mum or hand her a bunch of flowers, but it’s still possible to connect meaningfully on Mother’s Day.

Heart-felt phone calls, homemade cards, hand-written letters, cute photos and whole-family video calls are all ways to show a mother (and grandmother) how much she means to you.

You could host a ‘Granny Tribute Afternoon’ on Zoom, where you share memories and thanks, or put together a Mother’s Day care package, full of things that will make an older mum smile. Either way, it’s the thought that counts.

Set up a spa

Back at home, a DIY day spa is a lovely way to pamper Mum on her special day. Little fingers feel great as they dab face cloths and massage in moisturiser, so set the scene for relaxation with soft towels and music, then encourage Mum to lie back and enjoy.

With adult supervision, children can either experiment with Mummy’s usual products or make something from scratch. The internet is full of recipes for oatmeal face masks, salt foot scrubs and other beauties made from basic ingredients, and a spa is a fun activity for mums and kids.

Share a special recipe

Many mums will be relishing the chance to eat a meal made by someone else on 10 May, and there’s much to be said for a day that features posh pancakes prepared by Dad and a simple backyard picnic laid out by a little one.

That said Mother’s Day is also an opportunity for mummy chefs and junior master chefs to bond in the kitchen and make something memorable together.

A creation like a quadruple-layer, pink ombré cake will look gorgeous, but sometimes simple is best. Handing down a cherished family recipe or making butter out of cream are equally beautiful experiences to share on the day.

It’s also worth remembering that mother-child creations don’t have to be edible. Instead, you might like to collaborate on an artwork, plant a ‘Mother’s Day 2020’ tree in the garden, stage a family photo shoot or fill a time capsule with all the things you love about each other.

Party like it’s 1999 (or earlier)

If Mum likes to get her groove on, then nothing beats a living room disco at the end of the day.

Children can choose the playlist or give DJ Mum free reign on YouTube and Spotify, and this is a chance to mix old tunes with new, practice The Floss and get all dressed up with nowhere to go!

And on that note, we hope you all have a very happy Mother’s Day bonding with the dearest, if not nearest, people in your life.